Whether you are distributing books, hearing Srimad Bhagavatam, reading books, worshiping the Deity, or chanting the holy names, by any of these activities, you can please Guru and Krishna-- not "just" by distributing books. The stimulus to please Them, however, will come from your appreciation of what They are giving to you. This is natural.
December 21, 2000, Letter
The deeper the spiritual experience we get from serving and chanting, the deeper our gratitude becomes, and with that, the desire to reciprocate by our service with those who are inspiring us to chant. We must always look to deepen this experience, and that happens by serving those who help us to increase our faith in the holy name.
December 20, 2006, Letter
When we chant Krishna, He is in His name and therefore we can directly experience Krishna's presence in His name to the degree that we chant with faith.
December 19, 2010, Boston
If you want to become absorbed, you have to associate with those who are absorbed.
December 18, 2010, Boston
Only Krishna consciousness can give us shelter. Only Krishna consciousness can enable somebody to continue despite so many difficulties and to not become disturbed.
There is no other way that one can actually continue in this material world and not become disturbed. Only a devotee can be peaceful. It’s not possible for anybody else.
December 17, 1994, Odessa ( for sankirtana devotees)
Those who think that they are these bodies and enjoyers of the material world, when they hear such preaching of the vaishnava, they may resist in so many ways and protest. But still a vaishnava must take compassion and must make every effort to try to help them understand their eternal relationship with Krishna. So one who utilizes his energy for this purporse is one who understands his real self interest. This is the highest self interest, to have no interest for oneself.
December 16, 1994, Odessa
Your primary duty, therefore, is to draw on your greatest source of inspiration to help you perform your service. Just begrudgingly getting up every morning to serve Lord Narasimhadeva will not help you progress.
December 15, 2001, Letter
By coming in contact with bhakti in the heart of a devotee, our bhakti is awakened. What will increase that bhakti? Continued association with bhakti. Therefore, our sadhana bhakti must be executed WITH A DESIRE TO INCREASE OUR BHAKTI.
December 14, 2001, Letter
A devotee can be tolerant in any situation, and not become disturbed -- he is able to achieve a state of peacefulness. A devotee does not blame others for his suffering but accepts the suffering and misfortune as his own doing.
BG 3.8 -12
It’s a completely incompatible thought to have, to think that Krishna is the Supreme enjoyer and think that I’m the enjoyer at the same time. Therefore, we have to be able to forget that Krishna is the Supreme enjoyer in order to be able to try to enjoy. That is maya. And therefore, apohana means that the nondevotee forgets to think of Krishna first. A nondevotee thinks of himself first. That is the mentality of the nondevotee.
December 12, 1999, Ottawa